Maintenance And Longevity
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 90
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From: Aiea, Hawaii
I will change the oil at 5,000 miles, still have 3800 miles to go, for the first change. I have followed that in all by cars and now. I will do the same with my 2015 F150. I've averaged 10 years of ownership in my past cars. I have never had transmission or Engine problems. Do not intend to now. I keep the maintenance schedule checks on track every year. Might be overkill but thats alright. I keep all My maintenance records.
Scott
Scott
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Maine, Virginia
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...16274245,d.cGc
Ti VCT engines don't like dirty oil. I'm sure all or most car builders bring to market a version of this technology, but google Ti VCT and all you'll find is Ford. I think Honda also marketed this for a while. Pretty rare to hear of a Honda engine prematurely failing.
The 5.4L version of these has suffered immense reliability issues. It seems that Ford has figured out how to build them better but who knows what the future holds. I'm skeptical.
There's a bunch of high mileage 3.5 and 5.0 engines out there just like a bunch of 5.4's slipped through the cracks and didn't fall victim to cam phaser failure and timing chain issues.
I'm moving ahead on the side of extreme caution.
Ti VCT engines don't like dirty oil. I'm sure all or most car builders bring to market a version of this technology, but google Ti VCT and all you'll find is Ford. I think Honda also marketed this for a while. Pretty rare to hear of a Honda engine prematurely failing.
The 5.4L version of these has suffered immense reliability issues. It seems that Ford has figured out how to build them better but who knows what the future holds. I'm skeptical.
There's a bunch of high mileage 3.5 and 5.0 engines out there just like a bunch of 5.4's slipped through the cracks and didn't fall victim to cam phaser failure and timing chain issues.
I'm moving ahead on the side of extreme caution.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
Our '11 Sienna spec'd 0w20 full synthetic oil and had a 10,000 mile interval from the factory. We sold it at 80,000 miles, but didn't have any engine issues. Of course that's expected in this day and age, but there are lots of folks with twice that mileage on the same engine without issue.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
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Numbers can be subject to immense speculation, as in example I recall reading something about the 5.4 a few years back saying that by the number of warranty claims it was the most reliable engine Ford ever built.....now try selling that to all the guys on this forum and others like it who came a posting with their 5.4 horror stories.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,006
Likes: 1,517
From: Maine, Virginia
That's because Ti-VCT is a Ford trademark. I'm not aware of anyone that makes an engine without this technology anymore. Honda calls it VTEC, Toyota calls it Dual VVT-i, Kia calls it CVVT, Subaru calls it DAVCS, etc. I'm sure there are examples out there that don't use it, but they must be few and far between.
Our '11 Sienna spec'd 0w20 full synthetic oil and had a 10,000 mile interval from the factory. We sold it at 80,000 miles, but didn't have any engine issues. Of course that's expected in this day and age, but there are lots of folks with twice that mileage on the same engine without issue.
Our '11 Sienna spec'd 0w20 full synthetic oil and had a 10,000 mile interval from the factory. We sold it at 80,000 miles, but didn't have any engine issues. Of course that's expected in this day and age, but there are lots of folks with twice that mileage on the same engine without issue.
Numbers can be subject to immense speculation, as in example I recall reading something about the 5.4 a few years back saying that by the number of warranty claims it was the most reliable engine Ford ever built.....now try selling that to all the guys on this forum and others like it who came a posting with their 5.4 horror stories.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 77
From: Central Florida
Numbers can be subject to immense speculation, as in example I recall reading something about the 5.4 a few years back saying that by the number of warranty claims it was the most reliable engine Ford ever built.....now try selling that to all the guys on this forum and others like it who came a posting with their 5.4 horror stories.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
Seems to me like they had one problematic system in the 3V modular V8s, but I don't think other engines suffered similar issues.
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Ti VCT engines don't like dirty oil. I'm sure all or most car builders bring to market a version of this technology, but google Ti VCT and all you'll find is Ford. I think Honda also marketed this for a while. Pretty rare to hear of a Honda engine prematurely failing.
The 5.4L version of these has suffered immense reliability issues. It seems that Ford has figured out how to build them better but who knows what the future holds. I'm skeptical.
There's a bunch of high mileage 3.5 and 5.0 engines out there just like a bunch of 5.4's slipped through the cracks and didn't fall victim to cam phaser failure and timing chain issues.
I'm moving ahead on the side of extreme caution.
Ti VCT engines don't like dirty oil. I'm sure all or most car builders bring to market a version of this technology, but google Ti VCT and all you'll find is Ford. I think Honda also marketed this for a while. Pretty rare to hear of a Honda engine prematurely failing.
The 5.4L version of these has suffered immense reliability issues. It seems that Ford has figured out how to build them better but who knows what the future holds. I'm skeptical.
There's a bunch of high mileage 3.5 and 5.0 engines out there just like a bunch of 5.4's slipped through the cracks and didn't fall victim to cam phaser failure and timing chain issues.
I'm moving ahead on the side of extreme caution.
Josh
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Dec 2015
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I believe all the old stories like this, but here's the thing: They were made to where you could. Nowadays, I don't think they make them to where you can make one filter last 200,000 miles. It's a money racket. Manufacturers make certain things to only last a certain amount of time so you have to keep buying more.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,006
Likes: 1,517
From: Maine, Virginia
I dunno Tim. The 5.4L was known to have issues, but Ford has been using VCT in lots of other engines since at least 2005 with their Duratec engines. I can't remember reading of a problem with them, and Mike Harrison mentioned in 2010 that the new 6.2L engine went to the same type of system. I don't recall hearing of a VCT issue in the 2011-present trucks.
Seems to me like they had one problematic system in the 3V modular V8s, but I don't think other engines suffered similar issues.
Seems to me like they had one problematic system in the 3V modular V8s, but I don't think other engines suffered similar issues.
That's a little reassuring.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 738
From: Isanti, MN
I believe all the old stories like this, but here's the thing: They were made to where you could. Nowadays, I don't think they make them to where you can make one filter last 200,000 miles. It's a money racket. Manufacturers make certain things to only last a certain amount of time so you have to keep buying more.
K&N Billet Oil Filters
For the $240 for one of those, I can buy about 48 regular oil filters. That's good for 250,000 miles at a regular interval. No thanks, I'l keep my paper filter.
New User
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 6
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I feel it is quite reasonable to expect at least 250,000 miles with strict maintenance using Ford Motorcraft synthetic-blend oil, and Motorcraft filters and the Ford owner's manual specifications for service intervals.
More important than maintenance is how you drive the vehicle. Drive like a "grandpa", and the vehicle will serve you until you are a grandpa. Drive like an idiot, and the excess wear cannot be overcome by any maintenance schedule or full-synthetic miracle oils.
Also nearly as important than maintenance is modifications. Lifts, larger, heavier tires, levels, and tuning all put additional strain on the engine drivetrain. The closer you keep your truck to stock, the longer it will serve you. (Why I don't buy used).
I have two Ford trucks currently, a 1993 with 223,000 miles and a 2007 with 188,000 miles.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 77
From: Central Florida
My dad's 2001 V6 2wd F150 Sport conventional cab is showing no signs of wearing down anytime soon. He has about 125,000 on it now, mostly used as a commuter vehicle. He does tow a trailer for work a couple times a week. The trailer loaded weighs around 6,000lbs. It's all low speed towing and short distance. He takes very good care of his vehicles, come summer he'll get under it and paint any rust. He also sprays rust proofing in the doors & cab corners. He does all the maintenance and keeps a log book just the way he learned as an Army mechanic. The newer trucks seem like they are better built so I would expect even better service.
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